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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

A friend of mine, Rachel, the lovely lady behind Arbor Twist yarns and designs, was featuring a new hat pattern and needed test knitters.

The hat comes in Beanie or Slouchie, and she was in desperate need of Beanie testers, so I signed up in a heart beat, and was able to use some deep-stash yarn from way back in 2013 when I went to Tennessee.

I'm very happy with it, and it's warm, comfy, and beautiful - what more can a girl ask? I love the pattern - it's so simple to follow but beautiful - and I love the result!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

A few days ago, when I pulled it out to switch out the summer sheets, I discovered that the poor kitty had thrown up on it. It took a while to clean it properly and let it air dry, so while I was waiting, I whipped up a quick cover.

Essentially, I just used a King sized flat sheet we've never used, and folded it triple so it was one long piece. Then, I folded that in half the other way, and seamed the sides.

I was able to put it on the sheet container with the fold in the back and the open edges up front, and the kitty loves his soft, and easily washable, new bed.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

My mother-in-law works at a working historical farm. She works in authentic historical garb, and cooks, spins, and cleans in an authentic historical manner, giving tours to visitors and explaining her processes.

She mentioned to me last year that at the later-season (fall and winter) gigs, her co-worker had a bosom-buddy, or sontag - a historical woolen shawl that wrapped around to allow a woman to work while she wore it. She mentioned that she would like that for Christmas this year, and then she (hopefully) forgot about it.

So, I made one! It's humungous, and I followed a basic pattern from 1860 that I adapted, due to my gauge. I also created a button using Kate Davies Button Tutorial. The garter edge was knit with the body, and when I broke for the "wings," I cast on the 6 stitches needed for the "inside" garter ridges. Later, I went back and knit from the cast-ons, and applied a garter ridge by picking up a stitch from the neck edge, and knitting two together near that edge to maintain the six stitches.

I knit a 6-stitch garter ridge strip, and knit about 300 rows, and then continued that same applying technique to attach it to the bottom back of the sontag, and then knit another 300 rows. I then knit an applied i-cord all the way around that garter strip, which stabilized and strengthened it.

I sent it off to her for a late birthday/early Christmas gift, so she could use it this fall season, and thankfully, she loves it!

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

These are another pair of Christmas socks for the hubs - since we celebrate Christmas twice, once with each family, I love to have something for him to open at both celebrations!

I used a discontinued crazy neon self-"striping" yarn, which I love, and it's using Susan B. Anderson's Smooth Operator Socks pattern, which uses an afterthought heel. I used a contrasting heel, toe, and cuff, from the remnants of some yarn I used for another pair of his socks (upcoming).

He actually hasn't seen these yet (although he's seen the yarn). I tried one on him, but made him close his eyes. I hope they're a good surprise!